Tuesday, 14 January 2020:
Paul Adams is used to juggling work and shooting commitments but things threatened to get interesting while preparing for this week's Olympic selection event in Lake Macquarie.
Two months after securing Australia a Tokyo Olympics quota spot in skeet shooting, Adams dominated Tuesday's final of the Commonwealth championships.
The Queenslander shot 57 of 60 targets in the final, while Laura Coles put down 52 targets to take out the women's skeet final.
Adams and Coles are now in the box seat to be selected for the Tokyo Games, although there are a further three events that will determine who makes the cut.
It goes without saying that Adams, desperate to return to the Olympics after competing at Rio 2016, was keen to shoot at the Newcastle Lake Macquarie Clay Target Club this week.
But having joined the Navy Reserve in 2017, the nurse knew there was a prospect he may be required elsewhere.
"I got a little bit worried I might have to go to Victoria for all the fires. Not worried about going itself but missing out on this event," Adams told AAP.
"They've got enough personnel.
"Hopefully if they did call me up I could have spoken to someone but if it had to be, it had to be. I know what you sign up for and how it is."
Adams was quick to point out there is a long way to go in his Tokyo 2020 selection battle but feels he is better placed compared to four years ago.
"I've wrapped my head around it a bit more," he said.
"I was just excited to try and go last time. Then as soon as I finished shooting in Rio, I knew I wanted to get back to an Olympics and do better."
Coles was thrilled with her win, admitting she "felt nervous for every single shot of the competition".
